It doesn’t take much to chip a front tooth. Bumping into a door, a sports collision or even a car accident can all result in losing a piece of a tooth. How many people remember those inevitable falls when learning to ride a bike? Hopefully, it didn’t result in a chipped tooth, which is repairable with the latest dental solutions.
Here are some tips on what to do in the event you chip one of your teeth.
Get to see a dentist
The sooner you can get to see a dentist, the better, especially if the damage is severe. There is a range of treatments, depending on the severity and the dentist would make you aware of all the options. Not all dentists can offer emergency treatment, but an online search will help you find an emergency dentist in Sydney CBD or in the area you live in, who holds open a few appointments every day for such emergencies.
Dealing with pain
If you are suffering pain, take some over-the-counter medication until you get to see a dentist. Of course, saving the tooth is a priority, which is why you need to schedule a dental visit as soon as possible. Rinse your mouth with saltwater, which will reduce the risk of infection.
Sharp edges
If the chipped tooth is deep, this would leave a very sharp edge that would likely cut your tongue. One way to prevent this is to stick some chewing gum (sugarless) over the chip, which will protect it until you are in the dentist’s chair.
Potential Treatments for a Chipped Tooth
The best treatment depends on the amount of damage that is caused to the tooth and here are a few options:
Tooth Filling
This would be the best treatment for a very slight chip, using tooth coloured material that is expertly applied by the dental practitioner. The process is called ‘bonding’ and when complete, you would not see any signs of the breakage and this should last for many years.
Crown
If the break is complete and there isn’t much of the tooth left above the gumline, the dentist would recommend a crown, which involves grinding the tooth to a peg and fitting a crown.
Dental Veneers
Often, a high-quality porcelain veneer can be attached to the tooth, which is a complete covering of the tooth with the shaped veneer prepared by the dentist. Porcelain veneers are very popular as a cosmetic treatment, as they can correct uneven and crooked teeth, as well as conceal chips.
It is very important to have a chipped tooth treated as soon as possible; infection can quickly occur, and tooth sensitivity is often the result of not treating a chipped tooth.
Damage to the delicate tooth pulp is always a risk; one more reason to schedule an appointment as soon as the event happens, as this could save the tooth. If you suffer a minor chip to one of the back molars, don’t dismiss it as nothing, as this can be the onset of infection and once the dentist is able to examine you, he or she would recommend the best form of treatment.
Krishan Jangir